Vic Mizzy, popular 1960s TV theme songwriter dies
American composer, Victor Mizzy, died Saturday of heart failure in his Bel-Air mansion. His funeral was held today in California. He was 93.
Mizzy is most well-known for writing the theme songs for Green Acres and The Addams Family which, according to NPR, “made an incalculable contribution to 1960s popular culture.” His themes, usually upbeat and jazzy, still influence TV theme songs today.
Born in Brooklyn in 1916, Mizzy took piano as a child and was mostly a self-taught composer. He attended New York University and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He started writing songs in the 1930s including tunes recorded by Dean Martin, Doris Day, Perry Como, and Billie Holiday, but it wasn’t until 1959 that he first broke into composing for television. He went on to write themes and scores for dozens of sitcoms and movies.
Mizzy is survived by one daughter and two grandchildren.
[photo: vicmizzy.com]
Tags: Addams Family, Green Acres, heart failure, songwriter, Vic Mizzy